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Charlie Hess served in president’s ‘inner circle’
By Rose Hooper
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when Americans celebrate Independence Day, many have security on their minds, along with fireworks and watermelon.
At least one man in Jackson County can describe security at the highest level.
Charlie Hess of Cullowhee spent the last couple of years as part of an inner circle of special agents guarding President George W. Bush and other high-level officials.
Charlie Hess of Cullowhee retired last month from the Department of Defense’s U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, where his main assignment was liaison officer with the secret service at Andrews Air Force Base. Hess was often part of the team of agents providing an “inner circle” of security for President George W. Bush, who is exiting Air Force One.
Hess retired in June from the Department of Defense’s U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, completing his last mission on June 5, the day former President Ronald Reagan died.
While he traveled to countries such as England, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, Turkey and Jordan, his main assignment was liaison officer with the secret service at Andrews Air Force Base.
“There are concentric circles of protection around the President,” said Hess, describing the inner rings of the first six feet and the second ring, which he was in, that stays 10-15 feet within the President’s range.
An example of how tight security is around the president, Hess explained what happens when “Trail blazer” (what the agents call Bush) flies into Andrews Air Force Base.
“Before his arrival we’d have briefing for an hour and a half. Meanwhile, dogs would be out on the tarmac, as well as armed security personnel sweeping the area,” said Hess.
When Air Force One lands, three helicopters, which Hess refers to as “white tops,” circle overhead. As soon as the OK is given, they land at different points around Comet, agents’ code name for Air Force One.
“The president boards one of them; the other two are decoys,” Hess said.
Rarely does the president go to the fence where crowds gather, said Hess, whose job included guarding that area.
“But once we took him over for a group of home-schoolers waving signs “We love you, Mr. President,’” he said of Bush, whom he calls “friendly and amicable.”
Mrs. Bush “is very nice; with her what you see is what you get,” according to Hess, who said the First Lady’s aircraft is called “Brightstar.”
Hess also has good comments about national security advisor Condoleezza Rice, who he said “is a very intelligent, cordial lady.”
In today’s world Hess said he thinks the greatest threat to national security is technological espionage.
With advances in technology, nuclear devices can fit inside a briefcase, he said.
“You always have to be on alert, ” said Hess, who constantly looks for “something that doesn’t fit the norm.”
While he provided security on the highest level, Hess advises citizens to “always be alert in their own space.
“Who parked next to you this morning? Did you notice anybody out of the ordinary?” Hess said.
“If you stayed in a hotel, did you notice any room service trays outside in the hallway?” said Hess, urging citizens to “simply be aware of your surroundings.
“Ever notice where law enforcement personnel sit when they go into a restaurant? They always choose the back where they have their eye on everything.
“We’ve lived so long in a secure area, average Americans just don’t think about security,” said Hess, who believes that complacency can become a liability with the ever-increasing threat of terrorism.
Before his special agent days, Hess served in the U.S. Army, including a tour of Vietnam.
He recalled that tour recently when he was charged with protecting the Defense Minister of the Social Republic of Vietnam.
“One morning he was exercising, running up and down the hallways of the Willard Hotel in his boxer shorts. I told him back in 1968 we may have been shooting at each other,” said Hess, who served with 2nd Battalion, 7th Calvary, 1st Air Calvary.
With a touch of humor, Hess told about recently protecting El Hadj Omor Bongo, president of the Central African country of Gabon.
“When he and his entourage got ready to leave the country, they couldn’t get all their stuff back on the plane, which happened to be a big 747.
“They bought so much stuff – tires, paper products, all kinds of things they probably didn’t have readily accessible in their country – that they couldn’t load it all and ended up mailing some of it to Gabon. I’m sure there’s a Wal-Mart somewhere in the D.C. area that still needs re-stocking.”
Hess spent a 20-year career with the State Bureau of Investigation, retiring from that agency before joining the U.S. Air Force Reserves.
But even after retiring– again – during a formal ceremony last month in D.C. that his wife, Frances, and sons Robbie Hess of Sylva and Chris Hess of Asheville attended, Hess really isn’t retired.
He started work last week with Sheriff Bobby Medford in Buncombe County.
“Sheriff Medford and I worked as partners on the Asheville police force back in 1971 and became good friends,” said Hess, who some day may really retire and have leisure time to tinker with his 1944 antique coupe.
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